NEWS RELEASE

DEFRA ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES TO TACKLE BOVINE TB IN ENGLAND

New measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England, including the pre-movement testing of cattle and a 12-week consultation on badger culling, were announced by Defra today.

Bovine TB is a serious infectious disease of cattle, which also affects wildlife and has potential human health risks. It has been increasing at a rate of 18% a year. In 1986, 599 cattle were compulsorily slaughtered because of TB. By 2004, this had increased to 22,570.1 The disease cost the taxpayer £90.5 million last year.

The measures announced today consist of:

A public consultation on the principle and method of a badger culling policy in areas of high TB incidence in cattle.

The introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing to reduce the spread of bovine TB through movement of cattle. This requirement will apply to cattle over 15 months of age moving out of 1 and 2 year tested herds.

The introduction of a new compensation scheme to bring into line payments for bovine TB and three other cattle diseases. This follows the findings of a number of independent reports showing serious overpayments under the current bovine TB compensation system.

Today’s announcement follows the publication yesterday of interim findings from the Government’s badger culling trials. It also follows a cost benefit analysis by DEFRA of a number of badger culling options drawing on all the available science up to and including the recent trials conducted in the Republic of Ireland.

Animal Health and Welfare Minister Ben Bradshaw said:

“Bovine TB has reached crisis levels in some parts of the country. It causes great distress to farmers, leads to the costly slaughter of cattle and impacts on the health and welfare of wildlife.

Experience from around the world shows that strict cattle controls are essential if TB is to be contained and eradicated. But it also shows that it is unlikely to be successful unless in addition action is taken to deal with the disease in wildlife. In this country the main wildlife reservoir is in badgers. Recent research has shown that culling badgers in hotspot areas can help reduce the disease. But there is still enough scientific uncertainty – in particular about different culling strategies – to make it important to consult on the principle as well as the method of badger controls.

Pre-movement testing is clearly necessary – particularly if we are to prevent further spread to most of the country which is TB free.

The new compensation arrangements are not only a fairer balance between the tax payer and the farmer but will encourage good husbandry.”

The consultation paper seeks views on three potential options that could be used should badger culling be introduced:

Individual licensing;

A targeted cull over specific areas linked to the incidence of TB in cattle herds;

A general cull over larger areas of high TB incidence.

In addition to these measures, the Government continues to pursue the development of vaccines for cattle and badgers. We will also extend the use of the gamma interferon test as an adjunct to the skin test in order to improve diagnosis of the disease.

Defra is also inviting applications for membership of a new independent stakeholder group to advise Government on bovine TB policies. A separate Press Release will follow giving further details.

1 TB Reactors plus Direct Contacts. 1986 data taken from Animal Health 1987 (The Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer). 2004 data downloaded from State Veterinary Service database on 24 November 2005. All data provisional and subject to change as more data becomes available.

Notes for Editors

Consultation on badger culling

1. A consultation on badger culling is today being launched as part of bovine TB control measures. The role of badgers in bovine TB in cattle has long been the subject of debate. The Krebs Report (1997) stated "the sum of evidence strongly supports the view that, in Britain, badgers are a significant source of infection in cattle" and this remains the position today. Now, new results from the Randomised Badger Culling ('Krebs') Trial, together with the results from the Republic of Ireland Four Area Trial and other scientific evidence has provided a basis for the Government to involve the wider public in the decision making process on badger culling. The consultation document presents the scientific evidence, looks at the balance of costs and benefits, and considers the implications of a cull for animal welfare and conservation. Further information on badgers and bovine TB including the Randomised Badger Culling Trial can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/index.htm.

3. The Nature paper ‘Positive and negative effects of widespread badger culling on cattle tuberculosis’ can be obtained at http://www.doi.org using the following doi (document identification number): doi.10.1038/nature04454.

Pre-movement testing

4. There is clear evidence that movements of cattle contribute to the spread of bovine TB. Pre-movement testing will reduce the risk of spread to low incidence areas and also within high incidence areas. Following a public consultation in 2004, an independent stakeholder group chaired by dairy farmer Bill Madders made recommendations to the Chief Veterinary Officer on the introduction of a statutory requirement for pre-movement testing. The new testing requirements coming into force on the 20 th February are based largely on the group’s recommendations. Pre-movement testing will apply to cattle over 15 months of age moving from 1 and 2 year tested herds. On 1 March 2007 testing requirements will be extended to movements of cattle over 42 days old. Routine herd surveillance tests can be used as a pre-movement test as long as the animals are moved within 60 days of a clear test. Otherwise, farmers must arrange for and pay their LVI for the tests.

5. Wales will introduce pre-movement testing later in spring 2006 and Scotland introduced pre- and post-movement testing in September.

6. All cattle herd owners in GB are being sent detailed guidance on the requirements. A copy of the booklet is on Defra’s website. Background and further information on pre-movement testing is available at:

7. Defra’s aim is to introduce a new compensation system that is fair to both cattle owners and the taxpayer. In 2003 NAO (Wales) concluded that, on average, bovine TB valuations were between 50% and 100% higher than comparable prices achieved on the open market. They also concluded that there was a similar problem with TB valuations in England. Two audits carried out by Defra’s Internal Audit (2003 and 2004) reached similar conclusions. Additionally, two studies completed by the University of Exeter and the University of Reading, concluded that some farm businesses have made a net profit from TB breakdowns.

8. From 1 February 2006, compensation for farmers whose cattle are affected by bovine TB, brucellosis and Enzootic Bovine Leukosis will be determined through a new table valuation system. For BSE, the new arrangement will be introduced at a later date. Each month an average sales price (based on one month’s data for non-pedigree cattle and six months’ data for pedigree animals) will be calculated for the 47 specified cattle categories – and these averages will constitute the compensation payment for animals in the same category.